You will travel far, my little Kal-EI.
But we will never leave you...
... even in the face of our deaths.
You will make my strength your own.
You will see my life through your eyes...
... as your life will be seen through mine.
The son becomes the father, and the father the son.
In spite of your past...
...I know you're a good man.
And all good men...
...deserve a second chance.
From the moment I received your first letter...
...I knew you were not like the rest.
You came from nothing...
...and you worked so hard to get where you are.
You might have made a few mistakes.
- Gertrude, for God's sake! - Damn it, Gertrude, let us in now!
You said that if I helped you get out of prison...
...you'd take care of me.
And you have.
You've shown me pleasures that I've never known.
That's why you deserve...
...everything.
I love you...
...Lex Luthor.
Gertrude, let us in. He's a crook.
He doesn't love you, Gertrude!
He's a monster! Gertrude!
- You can keep that. - Oh, God.
The rest is mine.
We're done.
Bye, Martha.
Oh, Clark.
Oh, my boy.
Will you get that thing out of my face!
Lex, your friends give me the creeps.
Prison is a creepy place, Kitty.
One needs to make creepy friends in order to survive.
Even a man with my vast talents is worth less inside...
...than a carton of cigarettes and a sharp piece of metal in your pocket.
Do you know the story of Prometheus? No, of course you don't.
Prometheus was a god who stole the power of fire from the other gods...
...and gave control of it to mortals.
In essence, he gave us technology. He gave us power.
So we're stealing fire? In the Arctic.
Actually, sort of. You see, whoever controls technology controls the world.
The Roman Empire ruled the world because they built roads.
The British Empire ruled the world because they built ships.
America, the atom bomb, and so on and so forth.
I just want what Prometheus wanted.
Sounds great, Lex, but you're not a god.
Gods are selfish beings who fly around in little red capes...
...and don't share their power with mankind.
Hey, boss.
We found something.
No, I don't wanna be a god.
I just wanna bring fire to the people.
And I want my cut.
Was this his house?
You might think so. Most would.
This is more of a monument to a long dead...
...and extremely powerful civilization.
This is where he learned who he was.
This is where he came for guidance.
Possibilities.
Endless possibilities.
You act like you've been here before.
My son...
... you do not remember me.
I am Jor-EI.
I'm your father.
By now, I will have been dead many thousands of your years.
- He thinks I'm his son. - You are the only survivor of Krypton.
Embedded in the crystals before you is the total accumulation of all literature...
... and scientific fact from dozens of other worlds...
... spanning the 28 known galaxies.
There are questions to be asked.
Here in this...
This Fortress of Solitude...
... we shall try to find the answers together.
Can he see us?
No, he's dead.
So, my son...
... Kal-EI...
... speak.
Tell me everything...
...starting with crystals.
Hey, boy.
- On Tuesday, between support...
- hindered the firefighting efforts for all those...
Police have finally arrived and it's still complete mayhem down here.
Fighting broke out in the southernmost region...
... with border fire and small-arms attacks prevalent.
Don't worry, I buried it this morning.
- It was futile trying to force him to testify before a grand jury.
Mom?
Five years.
If your father was alive, he never would have let you go.
I almost gave up hope.
I just thought I would never see you again.
Oh, Clark.
Did you find what you were looking for?
I thought, hoped...
...it might still be there.
Your home?
That place was a graveyard.
I'm all that's left.
Clark, the universe is a big place.
And you don't know who's out there.
And even if you are the last...
...you're not alone.
I know.
- Sorry. - Look out!
Watch out, will you?
- Excuse me. - Sorry.
Sorry.
Great. Would you be careful?
- Jimmy. - Mr. Clark! I mean, Kent! Mr. Kent!
Welcome back! Oh, my God!
Hey, come... Wait right there. I'll be right back.
Oh, hey, sorry, guys, I'm still looking for a place to live...
...if you know of anything reasonable.
Behind you, Mr. Kent. I made it myself. It's a cake.
Oh, it looks...
...delicious.
Olsen! Where are the photos of that birthday-clown-massacre thing?
I'm on it, chief. Hey, look who's back.
- Kent? - Hey, chief.
- Thank you for giving me my job back. - Don't thank me.
Thank Norm Palmer for dying.
It was his time.
- Let's get you set up, huh? - Olsen!
Okay, so I gotta run...
...but I will be back to check on you in a sec, Mr. Kent.
Oh, hey, do you know where I can find Lois?
The timing of this automated-ignition countdown...
... is the most precarious part of the launch.
Lois Lane, Daily Planet.
You also stated that the shuttle will usher in a new era of travel...
... enabling the average person to afford transcontinental flights.
But can you tell us the exact price an "average person" will be expected to pay?
The answer to that question is in your press packet.
The Earth is surrounded by a blanket of air...
... which we call the atmosphere.
Yeah. He looks just like his mom.
Already takes after her too, especially when it comes to getting into trouble.
Mother?
Oh, yeah, well, I guess you've been gone. Fearless reporter Lois Lane is a mommy.
Oh, you know, I'll just... I'll take that. That's good.
- Sorry. - No. She's got plenty.
- Wait, she's married? - Yes.
No. Not really. It's more like a prolonged engagement.
But don't ask Miss Lane when they're tying the knot...
...because she hates that question.
- Like this follow the same stringent safety guidelines set by NASA?
Since this is a joint venture with the Air Force...
You all right? You look like you could use a drink.
This place is so tacky. Why are we back here?
Kitty, while you were doing your nails and ordering fur coats online...
...I was busy unlocking the secrets...
...of one of the most advanced civilizations in the universe.
Weren't there two of those?
You see, unlike our clunky earthbound forms of construction...
...the technology on Krypton, Superman's home world...
...was based on manipulating the growth of crystals.
Sounds like hocus-pocus to me.
Well, naturally, to the primitive mind, any sufficiently advanced technology...
...would be indistinguishable from magic.
But imagine: Cities, vehicles, weapons...
...entire continents...
...all grown.
To think that one could create a new world...
...with such a simple little object.
It's like a seed.
And all it needs is water.
Like...
...Sea-Monkeys.
Exactly, Kitty.
Like Sea-Monkeys.
Clark has been doing a little soul-searching for the last couple of years.
- He saw Ilamas. - Yeah?
- Yeah. - Must be tough coming back.
- Coming back? - To work.
Yeah.
Well, you know, things change.
I mean, of course things change...
...but sometimes things that you didn't think would change could change.
Take Lois.
A woman like her, I never thought she'd settle down.
You know, if you ask me... Because she'll never tell you this...
...but if you ask me, she's still in love with you-know-who.
The original space shuttle generated 7.5 million pounds of thrust...
...just in the initial launch phase.
But, by piggybacking on this Boeing 777... Yes?
If this launch is as pivotal as you claim...
...why is it being covered by one news network?
Why don't we save those questions for the post-launch briefing.
How about that, Miss Lane?
When we hit 40,000 feet, the shuttle will detach, ascend...
...and then fire the first of two propellant systems, the liquid fuel boosters.
When the shuttle reaches the stratosphere...
...the secondary insertion booster will fire...
...propelling the craft at 4gs into the mesosphere.
- Careful. - I know.
- Careful. Careful. - I know.
Wow, that's really something, Lex.
Wait for it.
Wow, that's really something, Lex.
It's freaking Gone With the Wind.
- Shut off the camera. - But I'm getting it.
I said, shut off the damn camera.
I think I did something wrong.
No. That wasn't you.
Ignition is at T minus one minute and we are prepping for separation.
CDR, start the clock.
Three minutes and counting.
Body signs normal. Crew is looking good.
Shuttle readouts are holding steady.
- We're still a go for launch. - Roger.
- Houston, you copy? - Houston, do you copy?
Oh, God.
Electrical variance.
What the...?
Please, there's nothing to worry about.
It seems that we are experiencing a slight power outage.
- What did you do? - It wasn't me. It just cycled back up.
Genesis, radio check from Houston.
There we have it. We were experiencing a power outage.
- Climbing to 40,000 feet. - Roger, 40,000 feet.
And it's gone! A blazing fastball...
Is that it?
I don't think so.
Dual engine failure, but they're up and running again.
Genesis, I hate to say this, but it looks like we're gonna have to scrub the launch.
- Aborting booster ignition. - Roger. Aborting booster ignition.
Boosters are non-responsive. We're still counting down for ignition.
- Platform, we have a problem. - Go.
Looks like something faulted during the power outage.
Both boosters are counting down for ignition.
Platform, you have 30 seconds.
- What? - Release couplings.
We can't shut down boosters.
We should be able to manage the launch and recover to the emergency field.
T minus 23 seconds to ignition.
Genesis, you're a go for evac procedures.
Twenty-one, 20...
... 19...
Couplings are non-responsive.
- We're still attached. - Seventeen.
- Platform, couplings are jammed. - Fifteen.
Fourteen.
Don't be alarmed. It's absolutely normal.
We're still attached. Couplings are non-responsive.
- Nine, eight... - Houston, can you do a remote override?
... seven...
- Remote override is unresponsive. ...six, five...
- I repeat, remote override is unresponsive. ...four, three...
And if you're lucky, you may hear the faint pop of the sonic boom.
- Houston, we have ignition. - Roger, ignition.
- This is Python 21, she's pulling away. - Okay, all flight control is on the...
This is not a drill. Clear nonessential personnel.
Switch to emergency band frequencies.
Warning, warning.
Oh, no! Oh, no!
Can I get a little help?
This is UPv breaking news. From Washington, Frank Jacobs.
We've just received word...
... that the inaugural flight of the Genesis space shuttle...
... is experiencing a midair emergency.
- A problem with the launch of the new orbital shuttle, Genesis.
The reports are telling us the shuttle failed to disengage...
... sending both crafts rocketing towards space.
We're now going live to Cape Canaveral for the latest update on this story.
Jim, all we know right now...
... is that the couplings which hold the shuttle to the 777...
... malfunctioned and did not release as planned.
- We're uncertain... - I should do...
... why the ignition sequence continued and boosters fired.
However, there's speculation here that the blackout, which...
Help me sit up.
- Mach one. - Still tied to the shuttle at 42,000 feet.
- Houston, we need some help. Houston! - Running diagnostics check. Stand by.
Insertion booster ignition in five seconds.
Warning, warning.
What the hell is that?
There's some kind of unidentified bogey coming from the north.
- Roger that. - And it's coming in fast.
Declaring an emergency.
Overspeed, overspeed.
Altitude...
Do you see that?
Fly up, fly up.
Is everyone all right?
Are you okay?
Well, I hope this experience hasn't put any of you off flying.
Statistically speaking, it's still the safest way to travel.
Superman! Superman! Superman!
Superman!
Okay, everybody, listen up.
I wanna know it all, everything.
Olsen, I wanna see photos of him everywhere. No, I want the photos.
Sports, how are they gonna get that plane out of the stadium?
Travel, where did he go? Was he on vacation? If so, where?
Gossip, has he met somebody? Fashion, is that a new suit?
Health, has he gained weight? What's he been eating?
Business, how is this gonna affect the stock market? Long-term, short-term.
Politics, does he still stand for truth, justice, all that stuff? Lifestyle:
"Superman Returns."
Come on.
Gil, how many F's in "catastrophic"?
None. What's the usage?
"This mysterious electromagnetic pulse knocked out portable devices...
...and entire power grids, causing a catastrophic event during..."
- Lois! - Yes.
In my office.
This goes for everyone.
The story isn't the blackout, it's Superman!
The story is the EMP, chief.
Every electronic device on the East Coast goes dark.
- First, are you okay? - Yes, thank you.
Lois, three things sell papers: Tragedy, sex and Superman.
People are sick of tragedy, we know you can't write worth a damn about sex.
That means one thing. That one thing is Superman. And you know it, Lois.
Lois?
- Are you all right? You sure? - Yeah.
- Yeah, I'm fine. - Thank God.
- Where's Jason? - I don't know. Isn't he with you?
- No. - Well, where is he?
Hi.
Hello.
Who are you?
I'm Clark Kent, an old friend of your mom's from before you were born.
Really? She never mentioned you.
Really? Never?
- No. - Jason.
- What are you doing here, honey? - Daddy's office is boring.
Daddy's office is boring?
Clark, hey! Welcome back.
- I see you've already met the munchkin. - Yeah, we were just talking...
- Did you take vitamins? Eye drops? - Yes. Yes.
- Albuterol? Poly-Vi-Flor? - Yes. Yes, Mom.
Good boy. He's a little fragile, but he's gonna grow up...
...to be big and strong like his dad, won't you?
- Yes? - Yes.
Oh, I saw you on the...
Oh, yeah. That was nothing.
- Hey, can I borrow your stapler? - Oh, yeah.
Thanks.
Congratulations on the Pulitzer. That's incredible.
Yeah. Can you believe it? It's...
So I wanna hear all about your trip.
Where did you go? What did you see? Meet anyone special?
Well, there's so much. Where to begin?
Where's the little guy? Hey, kiddo.
- How are you? - Good.
Can you work some magic to get your uncle...
...to stop giving me such a hard time on this article?
- Please? - Again?
- Again. - You got it.
- How are you, kiddo? - Good.
Oh, this is Clark.
- Clark, Richard. Richard, Clark. - Richard White.
Hi.
Richard's an assistant editor here who's basically saved our International section.
He's also a pilot and he loves horror movies.
Clark is...
Well, he's Clark.
Well, it's great to finally meet you. I've heard so much.
- Oh, you have? - Yeah, Jimmy won't shut up about you.
- Gotta run. - Where?
You heard Perry. Superman's back, and he thinks I'm the only one equipped to...
To what?
- I don't know, you know. - So don't listen to him.
I'm not. Going to the power plant to check out the blackout.
Okay.
- Bye, Mom. - Bye.
- Bye, Lois. - And she's gone.
No matter how close we are, that woman will always be a mystery.
If you need anything, I'm right over there.
Nice to finally meet you.
Where do you wanna go? Wanna go to the park?
And he's got the whole world In his hands
He's got the whole world
And he's got the whole world in his...
Oh, he's cute.
Run into trouble?
- Should see the other guy. - What are we gonna do?
Modify it, attach it to the stern. I don't care if the instructions are Russian.
- Lois? - Hey, Clark.
How does it feel to be back at work?
Pretty good. You know, kind of like riding a bike, I guess.
- A bike? - Yeah, you know...
Never mind.
But I was wondering...
...since I've gotten back, we haven't really had a chance to catch up.
I thought maybe, if you'd like, we could go grab some food...
- Hey, can I ask you something? - Sure.
Have you ever met someone and it's like you're from different worlds...
...but you shared such a strong connection you knew you were destined to be together?
Then he just takes off without explaining why...
...or without even saying goodbye?
Sounds cheesy, I know.
- Well, maybe... - Taxi!
...it was hard to say goodbye because he had to go...
...and he wanted to say goodbye, but maybe it was too difficult for him.
Difficult? What's so difficult about it? "Goodbye." It's easy.
What's so hard about saying goodbye?
Who are we talking about?
Nobody, just forget I said anything.
Taxi! Hey!
Taxi!
Wow, thanks.
312 Riverside Drive, please.
Good night, Clark.
Superman!